Motion-picture film reel



Oct. 5, 1948.

A. KOPPEL MOTION PICTURE FILM REEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 10, 1946 Oct. 5,- 1948. A. KOPPEL.

MOTION PICTURE FILM REEL 2 Sheets-Sheei 2 Filed Jan. 10, 1946 I IIIIIIIII Inventor Patented Dot. 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOTION-PICTURE FILM REEL Aubrey Koppel, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Application January 10, 1946, Serial No. 640,262

7 Claims. (Cl. 242- 70) This invention relates to film reels and more particularly to a reel having improved means for securing and threading therein, the free end of the film.

In film reels and the like, the film is usually secured to the reel by inserting the free end of the film in a slot provided in the core, particularly in inexpensive types of reels. Normally this is an awkward, relatively difficult procedure, due to the depth at which the core is disposed with respect to the narrow space existing between the flanges, and this becomes increasingly difficult in large reels of sub-standard sizes of films.

The present invention is conceived to obviate this difiiculty by providing means whereby the film can be positively and simply secured to the reel in a convenient manner, regardless of the size of the reel and the width of the space between the flanges. The invention has for one of its objects, the provision of means set forth above which are inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, and which therefore will not greatly increase the cost of the reel.

In brief, the invention consists of a conventional reel with a film clamping device which is slidable radially on. the reel, and which assumes an open or film receiving position, when it is moved to the outer limit of its ambit, near the periphery of the flanges, and is closed upon the film when it is moved to the inner limit of its ambit, at the core.

In describing the invention, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of the improved reel.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse fragmentary view of the reel, showing the clamping means in detail.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross sectional view of the film clamping means in its outer position.

Figure 5 is a similar view of the film clamping means in an intermediate position.

Figure 6 is a similar view of the film clamping means in its inner position.

Figure '7 is an enlarged transverse fragmentary View of the reel sectionally, illustrating said means in film releasing position.

Figure 8 is a similar view of the reel illustrating one film clamping element in detail and at right angles to Figure 3.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that the reel generally indicated at H], consists of the usual flanges l I, having spokes I2, and secured to a core l3. The reel construction and assembly is of secondary importance, and may be constructed along any well known lines common to the art. It will be noted however, that one spoke M, of each flange, is enlarged compared with the remaining spokes, and is provided with a longitudinal \central slot l5, which extends from a position close to the central aperture IE, to a position close to the peripheral edge of the flange, the slots extend radially with respect to the reel as a whole.

The peripheral extremity of the slot is bifurcated to assume the appearance illustrated in Figure 1, the said bifurcation consisting of angularly diverging, narrow slots ll. The slots are arranged in aligned, coacting position on the assembled reel.

The film securing means are slidably disposed in the coacting slots l5, and consists of a s1ider having a pair of plates 20, with a central offset portion 2!, so dimensioned that it can freely and snugly enter the slot l5, without appreciable lateral movement therein. The plates 20, are disposed on the inside of the flanges and secured to the body plates 22, which are positioned on the outside of the flanges adjacent the spokes 14, by means of long rivets 23. The said rivets are of such length as to extend from one flange to the other, and are provided at their ends with shoulders which retain both the offset portion 2| and the body plate 22 between the said shoulders and the rivet heads in loose abutment, consequently the ends of the plates 20 and 22 form therebetween a stay through which the margin of the slots 15 are disposed, the entire assembly therefore forming a slide enabled to move along the slots Hi, from one extremity thereof to the other.

A film clamping element 25, is freely disposed on each rivet 23. The clamping element is substantially S shaped in cross section, 'as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, and is rounded at one end as at 26, to act as a bearer for pivoting said member on the rivet 23, the outer end being folded back on itself to provide a lip 21, which faces the lip 21 of its opposite member.

The clamping elements are of a 'length substantially equal to the distance between the plates 20, with the exception of the crests of the lip which sections are extended outward, so as to engage the edges of the slots l5, and I1, and be guided thereby.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that when the slider is directed to the periphery of the flanges, the lips 21 will be moved into a diverging position in their respective slots 4 H, by the action of the lobes l8, acting upon the a plate overlapping the margin of the slots on the extended section at the crest of the lips. In this inside of the flanges, an olfset central section in position the film may be easily removed from the last named plates adapted to be within the between the opened lips or inserted therebetween slots, cross members adapted to secure the plates as the case may be, as shown in Figure 4. 5 together in sliding arrangement, in the slots and When the said film is inserted between the lips, film clamping means pivoted on the cross memthe slider is moved through the slot l5 toward bers. the core, causing the lips to come together as 5. Afilm reel comprising side flanges andacore, shown in Figure 5. In practice, the said lips are a radially disposed slot in each flange having a so shaped and resilient in nature, that when in ifurcated Oute ex r mi y nea the pe p y o their closed position, the film is tightly clamped the flange, an opening in the core above the inner between the opposed faces of the lips and securely extremity of the slots, a plate overlapping the held in place. Thereafter the slider is moved to margin of the slots on the outside of the flanges, its innermost position in the slot 15, having passed a plate overlapping the margin of the slots on through a transverse opening or slot in the surthe inside of the flanges, an offset central section face of the core. In this position the film registers in the last named plates adapted to be Within the with the core surface and can be easily wound slots, cross members adapted to secure the plates thereon. together in sliding arrangement, in the slots and From the foregoing disclosure, it will be apa film clamping element. pivoted at one extremity parent that means have been provided whereby on each cross member, the opposite extremity an operator is enabled to slide the film securing bent back on itself to form a lip which coacts with means, to the periphery of the flanges, where it the lip of the comple tary a pi element automatically assumes an open position for the and lateral projections on the clamping elements easy insertion of the film therein, in the simplest which extend into the slots in engagement with possible manner, whereupon it is moved inward the mar ins thereof.

toward the core, automatically closing upon and 6. A film reel comprising a core, side flanges clamping the film until finally the film is located each having a radially-disposed slot, each of said in position to be wound upon the core. slots having a bifurcated end near the periphery What I claim is: of said flanges, a slider engageable in said slots 1. Afilm reel comprising side flanges and a core, having two transverse members, film-clamping a radially disposed slot in each flange having a means pivotally secured to said members adapted bifurcated outer extremity, a stay in marginal to marginally engage said slots and be opened by engagement with each slot, cross members joining said bifurcated ends. the stays, the whole slidable in the slots and film A film re l pr si i c m at a clamping means pivotally attached to the cross o e, de fl ng s aving an align p radial members and means to open n close th film slots, each slot having a bifurcated extremity clamping means, near the periphery of the flange, a stay engageable 2, A film ree] comprising side flanges and a core, in each slot, cross-members connecting said stays, a radially disposed slot in each flange having a and l mpin means secured to said crossbifurcated outer extremity, a stay in marginal members in marginal e g n w h i sl s;

engagement with each slot, cross members joinwhereby the stays osser and C p ing the stays, the whole slidable in the slots, an means are radially slideable as a unit in said slots, S-shaped clamping element pivoted at one exh Said means are ap to be Op e by Sa d tremity on each cross member the opposite exbifurcated Slot extremltlei tremity forming a lip which coacts with the lip 5 AUBREY KOPPEL. of the complementary clamping element to secure a film therebetween. REFERENCES CITED A fi ee a Claimed in Claim character- The following references are of record in the ized in that the clamping elements are provided file of t i patent;

"h l t ral ro' c n which n a 't he ,fg g s 52 S V e g g8 h t UNITED STATES PATENTS 4. A film reel comprising side flanges and a core, Number Name Date a radially disposed slot in each flange having a 2,107,530 Goldberg Feb. 8, 1938 bifurcated outer extremity near the periphery of the flange, an opening in the core above the inner 55 FOREIGN PATENTS extremity of the slot, a plate overlapping the Number Country Date margin of the slots on the outside of the flanges, 6 ,9 Germany Aug. 17, 1938 

